Some delivery drivers unaware of Las Vegas Valley license rules
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Are you licensed to work?
While many valley delivery drivers are, some told FOX5 that they’ve been delivering groceries, takeout, or store purchases, but had no idea they needed a license in Clark County.
An analysis from Get Circuit, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that there are 21,000 delivery drivers across Nevada.
In Clark County alone, there are 369 licensed food delivery drivers, despite being the largest county with the largest business licensing department.
Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation did not have independent statistics available to track independent contractors for food and grocery delivery across the Las Vegas Valley.
According to an Uber spokesperson, a requirement for a business license in Clark County for food and restaurant delivery (which also requires a Nevada state business license) is rare among major cities in an overview of 26 states, other than New York City.
Many people turn to food delivery for a quick job for cash, work as a driver full-time, or even work part-time or occasionally to supplement their income.
“When I started talking to people, nobody knew that any of this was a requirement for delivery,” said Adam, who said he has worked for several apps and platforms and only learned about the requirements from FOX5.
It would cost $70 to obtain a Clark County license and $200 to obtain a Nevada state business license.
According to Clark County officials, investigations start after someone launches a complaint; if someone is found to be unlicensed, they will get a warning, first.
If unlicensed work continues, an investigation could start. Penalties could include a misdemeanor citation. “Possible infractions include operating without a business license or causing a public health and safety risk,” a spokesperson said in an email.
A spokesperson tells FOX5, apps typically inform drivers of local licensing requirements.
FOX5 reached out to several food delivery companies. Uber tells FOX5, that they provide prospective employees with Nevada and local guidelines on their website; many people who are licensed to perform rideshares also obtain permission to deliver food via the app, UberEats.
GrubHub sent FOX5 the following statement:
“To deliver with Grubhub, delivery partners agree to follow all local laws and regulations, including any licensing requirements specific to their area. We encourage potential drivers to review local requirements before signing up to deliver on our platform.”
Various delivery platforms and drivers are still looking ahead to regulations surrounding alcohol deliveries in Clark County. A county spokesperson said that a vote on the proposed ordinance on November 5 was delayed to add amendments.
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